Is it Sensitive or Sensitised Skin?

It seems more and more common these days to have sensitive skin. Is it true, or are we just getting a little too precious? The good news is that we are not a bunch of worry warts! Many people are experiencing skin reactions, something that most people describe as ‘sensitive skin’. A group of these individuals have never had sensitive skin before, but how could that be?

Though the products used for both are the same, there is a difference between sensitive skin and sensitised skin- one is a skin type and a skin condition.

Skin Type

Skin type is the skin that you are born with. Skin type cannot be changed, and your skin hygiene routine will maintain or manage your skin type to keep it in optimal health. You can have any skin type, or combination of skin types, and experience any skin condition. We might have dry skin, but still have blackheads and breakouts, what most people associate with oily skin.

Sensitive skin is a genetic trait and is a skin type. This skin type is prone to inflammation, which can lead to skin conditions such as redness, dryness, tightness and flaking. This ultimately leads to a breakdown in the barrier of the skin, leaving it open to irritants which triggers the inflammatory cycle all over again.

Other skin types include:

Normal

Oily

Dry

Combination

Skin Condition

A skin condition is the state that your skin is in. Is it red? Breaking out? Pigmented? A skin condition can change based on stress, the environment, hormones, season and from day to night. It is treatable, rather than manageable, and can be variable as the weather. Skin care regimes should accommodate changes to your skin condition. It can take some time to heal a skin condition, but with a little patience and the best skin care products, you can get things under control.

Sensitised Skin

Sensitised skin is a common skin condition. It is often caused by skin irritants and lifestyle factors. Skin irritants that commonly cause a sensitised skin condition are lanolin, alcohol, mineral oil, fragrances and colours in skincare products and makeup. The best skin care products for preventing and treating sensitised skin do not contain these harsh irritants. They are specially formulated for sensitive skin with anti-inflammatory properties.

Lifestyle factors that impact on the sensitisation of skin to consider are working environment, sleep, food and stress. Have you been spending a lot of time working in smoky environments or air conditioning? Or maybe you have been partying too much all night, not drinking enough water, and not taking your makeup off before you finally sleep? Treating sensitised skin needs to be looked at holistically to get the best results.

Sometimes, professional skincare treatments and other medical procedures cause the skin to become sensitised. This occurs often by having a chemical peel, laser treatments and surgery. Clients with sensitised skin due to a procedure should also take care of their skin with products that are formulated for sensitive skin. The good news is that the sensitivity is likely to pass more quickly than other sensitised skin conditions.

Make an appointment

If you are concerned about sensitive skin, and to discuss the best products to use for sensitised skin, see us for a free skin care assessment. Call 1300 123 368 Sydney.